Mangaung: Mantashe 'disappointed' at NEC elections

"I was a bit disappointed at the outcome. I would've liked to see continuity at the top," Mantashe told the newspaper.

According to the newspaper report, Mantashe said meetings were held to try convince former ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe not to contest the presidency position against Jacob Zuma.

He was apparently asked to rather continue in his position as deputy.
"But if you can't convince someone, you can't convince someone."

At the ANC's national conference, Motlanthe lost to Zuma in the election for party president. Motlanthe also withdrew his nomination for deputy president. The position later went to Cyril Ramaphosa. Asked if he would like to one day become party president, Mantashe told City Press, "When you are SG [secretary-general] you are at the top. Why would I want to go higher?". - Sapa